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Home | Electrical safety | Workplace health and safety | Industrial relations | Employment | Corporate information

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Workplace health and safety obligations
• 3. Managing health and safety
  • 3.1 Risk management
  • 3.2 Consultation
  • 3.3 Training
• 4. Mobile cranes and construction work
• 5. Design and plant registration of mobile cranes
• 6. Risks associated with mobile crane operations
• 7. Limiting and indicating devices
• 8. Ergonomic issues
• 9. Crane documentation and markings
• 10. Planning and coordinating mobile crane operations
  • 10.1 Selecting the crane
  • 10.2 Crane crew
  • 10.3 Crane siting
  • 10.4 Communication
  • 10.5 Documented lifting procedures
• 11. Crane stability
  • 11.1 Stabilising and overturning moments
  • 11.2 Ground conditions and crane support
  • 11.3 Sloping ground—pick-and-carry cranes
  • 11.4 Wind conditions
  • 11.5 Roles and responsibilities regarding crane stability
• 12. Minimising risk of injury from collision
• 13. Erecting and dismantling mobile cranes
• 14. Operational issues
  • 14.1 Roles and responsibilities associated with mobile crane operations
  • 14.2 Minimising risk of injury from lifting loads
  • 14.3 Multiple crane lifts
  • 14.4 Leaving the crane unattended
  • 14.5 Mobile cranes and road travel
  • 14.6 Workboxes and first aid boxes
  • 14.7 Fatigue
  • 14.8 Additional precautions when using mobile cranes
• 15. Requirements for mobile cranes used in other circumstances
• 16. Use of other mobile plant as a mobile crane
• 17. Vehicle-loading cranes
• 18. Training
• 19. Inspecting, testing, maintenance and repair of mobile cranes
  • 19.1 'Competent person' for inspecting mobile cranes
  • 19.2 Non-destructive testing
  • 19.3 Pre-operational inspection
  • 19.4 Routine inspection and maintenance
  • 19.5 Annual inspections
  • 19.6 10-year major inspection
  • 19.7 Records of inspections and maintenance
  • 19.8 Mobile crane repair
  • 19.9 Second-hand imported (overseas) mobile cranes
• Appendices
  • Appendix 1 Dictionary
  • Appendix 2 Referenced technical standards
  • Appendix 3 Queensland driver licence classes
  • Appendix 4 Prescribed occupation certificate classes
  • Appendix 5 Familiarisation training checklists
  • Appendix 6 Example annual crane safety certificate
  • Appendix 7 Example crane safety certificate – 10-year inspection

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14.2 Minimising risk of injury from lifting loads

14.2.1 Control measures to maintain the integrity of lifting gear
14.2.2 Control measures to minimise risk of injury from crane overload
14.2.3 Control measures to minimise risk of injury from unsecured and dropped loads

Lifting of loads may present a risk to the health and safety of persons in the vicinity of the mobile crane from:

1. damaged lifting gear;
2. crane overload; and
3. unsecured and dropped loads (falling objects).

14.2.1 Control measures to maintain the integrity of lifting gear

Guidance on the use and inspection of chains, wire ropes and synthetic slings is provided in the following publications:

1. AS 2759 : Steel wire rope – Application guide (non-Queensland Government link);
2. AS 3775.2 : Chain slings – Grade T – Care and use (non-Queensland Government link);
3. AS 2321 : Short-link chain for lifting purposes (non-Queensland Government link);
4. AS 4497.2 : Round slings – Synthetic fibre – Care and use (non-Queensland Government link);
5. AS 1353.2 : Flat synthetic-webbing slings – Care and use (non-Queensland Government link);
6. AS 4991 : Lifting devices (non-Queensland Government link); and
7. A Guide for Doggers (published by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland).

Basic items that should be checked include:

1. the lifting gear is tagged and all relevant information listed (e.g. relevant information for a chain sling includes grade of chain, SWL, manufacturer, chain size and Australian Standard marking);
2. lifting hooks are provided with operable safety latches;
3. shackles used as terminal fittings are prevented from unscrewing (e.g. mousing or similar);
4. lifting eyes and inserts are compatible and the same proprietary brand;
5. lifting slings are not damaged (e.g. excessive wear, damaged strands, cracks, deformation or severe corrosion); and
6. the sling is appropriate for loads being lifted, including adequate capacity and protection from sharp edges.

Where synthetic slings are used, protective sleeves and corner pieces should be used for all loads. Although the edges of the load may not appear to be sharp, the sling may become damaged when it is placed under tension.

All lifting gear, including slings, hooks and material boxes, should be periodically inspected for damage and wear by a competent person. The period between inspections will depend on the severity of use, but should not exceed 12 months. The inspection of synthetic slings should be carried out at three-monthly intervals (see AS 1353.2 : Flat synthetic-webbing slings – Care and use (non-Queensland Government link) and AS 4497.2 : Round slings – Synthetic fibre – Care and use (non-Queensland Government link) for further information). All lifting gear should be tagged to identify the date of the lifting gear’s last inspection. Documented maintenance records for the lifting gear should be available at the workplace.

14.2.2 Control measures to minimise risk of injury from crane overload

A mobile crane must not be subjected to a manner of loading or a greater load than is marked on the load chart. Where the load mass is cause for concern, the dogger should verify if the stamped load mass is correct.

Before starting to hoist a load, the crane operator or dogger should make sure that the hoist rope hangs vertically over the load. Care should be taken to ensure that swinging of the load is avoided when the lift is taken. The crane operator should ensure the load is always under control when lowering loads, or when the load is suspended. When handling maximum or near maximum loads, the crane operator should take the following precautions after the load has been lifted a few centimetres:

1. test the hoist brakes;
2. check the weight recorded on the load weight indicator; and
3. recheck the load chart.

Except in an emergency, the crane operator should not leave the cabin or control room while a load is suspended from the crane.

14.2.3 Control measures to minimise risk of injury from unsecured and dropped loads

The Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 describes the control measures that must be implemented to protect persons from falling objects during construction work.

Extreme care must be exercised when lifting loads in the vicinity of other persons, including other workers and members of the public.

Where possible, handling loads over public access areas such as footpaths, roads, highways, railways, waterways and buildings must be avoided. If lifting over these areas cannot be avoided, appropriate control measures (e.g. exclusion zones, suitably designed gantries) must be in place to prevent or minimise exposure to the risk of being hit by falling objects during the lifting operation.

Lifting materials

Crane-lifted loads should be slung and secured so that the load (or any part of it) cannot fall. To ensure the safe lifting of loads, the following should occur:

Material boxes

1. The tare mass and SWL should be clearly marked on all material boxes.
2. Material boxes should be appropriate for the material being lifted, and be engineer-designed and certified.
3. Four chains (one in each corner) should be attached to material boxes during lifting.
4. Specifically designed material boxes should be used to lift smaller components. Boxes should have enclosed sides or robust mesh, with openings less than the minimum size of materials being lifted.
5. Material boxes should be inspected and maintained, and inspection records kept.
6. Loads within material boxes should be secured against movement.
7. Materials should not be stacked higher than the side of the material box unless they are adequately secured, but at no time should the material box become top heavy.

General lifting

1. Formwork frames should be either tied together or lifting slings should be wrapped around the load.
2. Loads of joists or bearers should be strapped together before lifting.
3. Timber sheeting should be strapped together and lifted in a flat position.
4. Sheets of plasterboard may be lifted in a specifically designed material box. If a material box is not used, then the lifting system must:
1. be certified by an engineer;
2. specify the minimum and maximum number of sheets;
3. specify the number and locations of lifting slings; and
4. specify the capacity of lifting slings.
5. Tag lines should be used as required to control loads.
6. All loads should be supported where possible with dunnage, with the load uniformly distributed over the supporting surface.
7. Basket hitches should not be used wherever persons may be located near a lifted load, unless the sling is positively restrained from sliding along the load.

Further guidance on securing loads can be found in the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland publication – A Guide for Doggers.

Exclusion zones

Exclusion zones should be established around mobile cranes and adjoining areas to prevent persons from entering the area. The size of the exclusion zone should be based on a written risk assessment.

Where the exclusion zone requires closure of a public footpath or roadway, approval must be obtained from the relevant authority, and persons should be safely directed to an alternative footpath. Lane closures and other operations that require the erection of barricades and signs should comply with the requirements of Department of Main Roads, local government authorities and any relevant building or local Acts.

Last updated 21 August 2008

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© The State of Queensland (Department of Employment and Industrial Relations) 2008.
Queensland Government